What Is It Like To Be The Commanding Officer Of An Aircraft Carrier?

Carriers are a unique representation of national strength. As they operate around the globe in response to the National Command Authority, they are often the most visible manifestation of America’s military power, technology and the resolve and talent of our people. Worldwide, our friends and foes fully appreciate the impact a carrier’s war-fighting capability has on the balance of power during conflict—from minor contingency operations to major theater-level combat. The multi-billion dollar carrier, its complement of multi-million dollar aircraft and a crew of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines represent a large investment of our national treasure. Officers given the responsibility for that investment are carefully selected. There are many times in a 24-hour day when the captain’s training, skill and judgment are fundamental in safely and effectively conducting the carrier’s mission and successfully reaching the nation’s goals. In recognition for his singular role as the commanding officer, the crew refers to him simply as “the captain.” There are several other O-6 grade officers on the ship, but there is no ambiguity when a crewmember refers to “the captain.” The respect between the captain and his crew is mutual. There are no finer examples of our young men and women than those who man our carriers. Very young Americans in a stressful and dangerous environment are entrusted with a level of authority and accountability that is unique in our society and their performance always exceeds expectations. If you want to renew your faith in our latest generation, visit a deployed carrier and observe the crew.

My experience with aircraft carriers goes back to 1976 on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV 42), an old Midway-class carrier in service since the end of World War II. I was a Navy lieutenant junior grade, flying the F-4N Phantom on my first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea with the Fighter Squadron 111 “Sundowners”. I later transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat with that squadron and made a second deployment on USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) to the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. I made seven more carrier deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic and the Arabian Gulf. One of those deployments was with USS America (CV 66), supporting the 1986 Operation Eldorado Canyon strikes in Libya. I later served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron 142, deploying in 1988 with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). In 1991, I deployed with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) as the Strike Group Air Operations Officer for Operation Desert Storm. While deployed, I was selected to attend the Navy Nuclear Power School and started what is referred to in the Navy as the “nuclear pipeline,” which can ultimately lead to carrier command. From school, now a captain, I was assigned to CVN 71 as the Executive Officer. We deployed during my tour, but this time we went to the Adriatic and supported U.S. efforts in Bosnia/Kosovo. After “deep draft” command of a Fast Combat Stores ship, USS Seattle (AOE 3), I served as the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington (CVN 73) from 1997-2000. We deployed to the Arabian Gulf, supporting U.S. contingency efforts supporting weapons inspections in Iraq. My last job in the Navy was Commander, Carrier Strike Group Four, from 2002-2004. During that tour, my job was to train carrier battle groups as they prepared for deployment. After the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, my group trained every East Coast Carrier Strike Group that deployed through 2004 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A convenient way to begin answering the posed question might be to start with some background information about aircraft carrier captains. They are senior naval aviators with about 25 years of experience in naval aviation communities that operate fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft from carriers. The captain’s background would include multiple deployments on carriers in a variety of leadership positions. Prior to selection for carrier command, captains must serve as the commanding officer of a carrier-based aircraft squadron, complete Navy Nuclear Power training and serve as a carrier executive officer. Carrier captains must also command a “deep draft” naval vessel prior to being assigned to command a carrier.

Modern carriers have about 5,000 personnel embarked when deployed in a “combat-ready” status. A flag officer is embarked on the carrier as the Strike Group Commander and is responsible for the overall operations of all the ships in the Strike Group. The carrier captain is responsible for providing the platform, aviation assets and services required to support missions assigned by the Strike Group Commander. He shares this responsibility with the Carrier Air Group (CAG) Commander, who is also a Navy captain with a similar aviation background. The relationship between these two senior aviators is complex and largely beyond the scope of the question asked, but basically the CAG is responsible for leadership of the individual squadrons which make up the ship’s air wing and for execution of the missions those aircraft perform once launched from the carrier. The ship’s captain is responsible for the condition and safety of the ship and for providing most of the material, facilities and services required to prepare the aircraft and pilots for those missions.

The aircraft carrier is frequently described as a small city, and the comparison may provide a common perspective for discussing the captain’s responsibilities. Like the mayor in this analogy, the captain provides the leadership and organizational structure necessary to operate the “city.” The Navy’s modern, 95,000-ton displacement aircraft carrier includes about 75 aircraft, a 4.5-acre airfield, catapults and arresting gear to launch and recover aircraft, large magazines and storage facilities for ammunition, fuel and aircraft parts as well as high-tech maintenance activities that provide all the services and supplies necessary to keep well-maintained aircraft ready for mission assignment. For the crew the carrier provides galleys, berthing areas, laundry services, medical, surgical and dental facilities and myriad activities necessary to ensure the health and well-being of the assigned personnel. Like a city, the ship has a fire and emergency response capability and its own security organization, including security forces, legal services, brig and a process by which the captain enforces good order and discipline. In addition to aircraft maintenance, the ship has several other maintenance organizations that keep the ship’s propulsion systems, radars and thousands of electronic systems operating. The ship generates and distributes its own power, provides and maintains sanitation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, and makes several hundred thousand gallons of water every day from sea water. This description just summarizes the high-level capabilities of the ship. The next layer includes a variety of additional services and activities: radio and television studios, machine shops, carpentry shops, automatic teller systems, recreation facilities, chapels, libraries, athletic facilities, and the list goes on.

The captain leads a cadre of senior naval officers in the operation of the ship. These very experienced officers, called department heads, lead the various departments providing products and services required to complete the ship’s mission. Each of the department heads is an expert in one of the major ship departmental functions: Ship Operations, Intelligence, Propulsion, Engineering, Combat Systems, Supply, Air Operations, Aircraft Maintenance, Safety, Training, Navigation, Religious Ministries and Medical. If the Captain is the mayor, the ship’s executive officer is the city manager. With a background similar to the captain’s and heir apparent for his job, he provides the day-to-day leadership necessary to keep all the departments operating efficiently and effectively.

As a naval line officer, the commanding officer of a carrier is given broad responsibility for his ship. He is accountable for all aspects of his ship’s performance, and that of the crew, and is given broad authority commensurate with those responsibilities. He is ultimately the final decision authority for his command. The concept of a ship’s captain having such broad responsibilities and ultimate accountability goes back to the earliest days of command-at-sea where the ship and its crew were largely cut off from any higher authority for long periods of time and the ship’s captain was singularly charged with the safety and success of his command. Today’s technology allows a modern carrier to be closely connected with higher authority, but the captain’s responsibilities for his crew, the ship and the mission have changed little.

Carriers never sleep, and therefore carrier captains seldom do either. Important activities go on throughout the day and night. Moving, assembling and testing ordnance, purifying and storing fuel, organizing the flight deck, mission planning, safely navigating the ship, preparing food, training and performing maintenance on important ship and aircraft systems go on around the clock. During flight operations the captain can normally be found on the bridge directly involved in the mechanics of positioning and preparing the ship for launch and recovery of aircraft, ensuring the safe navigation of the ship and overseeing flight deck operations. Before and after flight operations he will likely be meeting with department heads, participating in daily briefings with the embarked flag officer and the CAG, and completing numerous administrative responsibilities generated by a command as large as the carrier. Flight operations normally consume 12 hours per day, and with these additional responsibilities the captain’s day is routinely 18 to 20 hours long; however, numerous special evolutions typically consume even more of the captain’s time. He is on the bridge for any special evolution that presents increased risk to the ship. Early morning underway replenishments alongside a fleet oiler, navigation of straits or other areas that restrict the carrier’s ability to maneuver and entering or leaving ports are all frequently occurring evolutions requiring the captain’s presence on the bridge. Because of the “around the clock” nature of carrier operations, captains become masters at catching sleep whenever they can find a few minutes to do so.

Commanding a carrier is one of the most demanding jobs in the Navy. On any given day, only 11 officers have these responsibilities in the U.S. Navy, and in the 100-year history of carrier operations, only a few of many thousands of naval aviators have served as carrier commanders. While it is a physically demanding job, requiring broad aviation experience, several unique qualifying duty assignments and very specialized training, it remains one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs in the Navy.